You can ‘chip’ in by disposing of your Christmas tree at this weekend’s Mulch Fest

January 11, 2019

Peter Melendez III shows off his strength to his dad, Peter Melendez, Sr., by pulling their old Christmas tree to be chipped and turned into mulch during the city-wide Mulchfest in Astoria Park in Queens in this Daily News file photo. (Anthony DelMundo for New York Daily News)

It’s mulch ado about something.

If you’re one of the good citizens who didn’t just dump your Christmas tree after the holidays, this weekend is your time to shine. It’s Mulchfest in the city — wow, you can even sing that line to the tune of “Silver Bells.”

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Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., people can drop off their expired evergreens at parks throughout the five boroughs. At many locations, the city says, you can take home a “tree-mento” — hey, puns are our territory — a bag of mulch.

“Put on your boots and haul your tree to a Mulchfest location — we’ll chip your tree into wood chips that we’ll use to nourish trees and make NYC even greener,” the city’s release says.

The Parks Department website has a list of the places accepting trees and the ones that offer also mulch.

City workers throw old Christmas trees inside a wood chipper to be turned into mulch during Mulchfest in Astoria Park, Queens in 2012. (Anthony DelMundo for New York Daily News)

More than 25,000 trees were recycled last year, according to the Parks Department, and the city is looking to top that number.

The city says to remove all lights and ornaments — that needs to be said? — as well as any netting before bringing in your tree.

It’s the perfect way, the city says, to “say fir-well to your holiday tree.” (Hey, what did we tell you about puns?)